Leaf collector



March 13, 192.8.` 1,662,160 c. c. MYRlcK LEAF COLLECTOR Filed Jan. 5.1. 1927 2 sheets-sheet 1 lodoooaalanooab I INVENTOR.

'/ Z5 far/ard Ln/grazia ATTORNEY.

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ATTORNEY..

,Patented Ma.. 13,1928. 1,662,160

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLIFFORD C. MYRICK, TUCSON, ARIZONA.

LEAF COLLECTOR.

application mea January s1, 1927. serial No. 164,866.

The invention relates to a leaf gathering Figure 3 is a sectional v iew taken approxind collecting machine; mately on the line 3--3 of Figure 2 looking The primary object of the invention is the in the direction of the arrow. provision of Aa machine of this character, Figure 4 is a sectional View taken approxi- 5 `wherein loose leaves, twigs and grass, or the mately on the line 4.--4 of Figure 1 looking 60 like, will be conveniently gathered and colin the direction of the arrow. lected, so that the same can be transported Similar reference characters indicate corto a point of deposit, as the machine isy adresponding parts throughout the several 'vanced over a lawn, or ground surface, the views in the drawings.

machine being of novel form, so that leaves, Referring to the drawings, in detail, A 65 twigs and grass when picked up from the designates generally the collector or gatherground will be caused to depositv within a ing element, B the frame and C the pan or receiver during the gathering operation of container, of the machine, these being heresaid machine when moved over the lawn or inafter more fully described.

i5 ground. The collector or gatheringelement com.- 70

VAnother object of the invention is the prises a cylindrical drum 10 which is closed provision of a machine of this character, at opposite ends and is centrally fixed to a wherein the'gathering element, will be freed spindle 11, While projecting radially from of the leaves, twigs or grass gathered or colthe cylindrical surface of said drum 10 are lectedthereby, so as to eliminate the clogging rows'of spaced picking or gathering' lingers 75 of such element, which would result in 12, each in the form of a tine of the required being ineffective for the purpose intended length so as to penetrate leaves, or have cling thereof. thereto the latter, twigs, grass or the like A further object of the invention is the when resting loose upon the ground surface.

provision of a machine of this character, The frame B is formed with aA fork 13, 80 wherein the hand raking of leaves, twigs, the side members 14 of whichare provided grass, or the like, is entirely eliminated as vwith terminal bearings 15 in which are such leaves, twigs, grass or the like will be -Ljournaled the ends of the axial or spindle automatically gathered and held in bulk for 11 vof the drum 10, so that the collector or transportation to the point of deposit at 'gathering element A will be rotatably sup- 85 the option of the operator of the machine. ported in the frame B as will be clearly `A still further object of the invention is apparent. y the provision of a machine of this character` Extending centrally from the fork 13 is which is comparatively simple in construca handle bar 16 having at its free end crossed tion', thoroughly' reliable and efficient in its handle grips 17 of conventional form. 90 purpose, rea ily and easily handled, enabling Formed in the side members 14 of the the gathering and collectionof leaves, twigs, fork 13 spaced inwardly from the bearings grass or the like with dispatch, and inex- 15 are further bearings 18 in which is suppensive to manufacture. ported a journal 19, the latter having fixed 40 With these and other objects in view, the thereto between the side members 14 of the l95 invention consists in the Jfeatures of confork 13 a roller in the'form of a cylinder 20 struction, combination and arrangement 'of of considerably less s1 ze than the drum 10 parts, as will behereinafter more fully deand this roller has projecting radlally therescribed, illustrated in the accompanying from rows of spaced teeth or tlnes 21, which drawings showing the preferred embodicoaet with the'tines 12 on the drum 10 to* 100 ments of the invention, and pointed out in remove therefrom leaves, twigs, grass or the claim hereunto appended. other loose matter collected thereby.

In the accompanying drawin s At one side of the fork 13 and fixed to the Figure 1 is a side elevation o a machine respective journals 11 and 19 are sprocket constructed in accordance with the invenf gears 22 and 23 over whlch is trained an 105 tion, showing by full lines the gathering or endless sprocket chain 24 so that motion collecting position, while by dotted lines is from the drum 10 w1ll be imparted to the shown the osition of, the machine for the cylinder 20, the latter being rotated in a redumping o its load.

verse direction to the direction of rotation Figure2is atop plan view of the machine.q of the drum 10, so that the tines 21 on the 11i cylinder 20 will kick from the tines l2 of the drum 10 leaves, twigs and other loose matter collected thereon. Y

Mounted in the handle bar 16 contiguous to the frame B is an eye 25, while mounted in the bearings 15 at opposite sides of the fork 13 are hooks 26 and with these, including the eye 25 is detachably connected the pan or container C. This pan or container C comprises a body formed with a back 27, bottom 28 and ends 29, the latter being substantially triangular shaped so as to provide a relatively wide or large opening at the forepart of said pan or container C to assure the gathering of the loose matter when kicked vfrom the element A by the tines 21 on the cylinder 20.

Mounted medially of the back 27 of the pan or container C is a. resilient latch member 30 adapted for detachable hooking engagement in the eye 25, while connected to the ends 29 contiguous to the front of said Een or container C are rearwardly inclined anger members 31, each having an eye terminal 32 to engage the hooks 26 on the bearings 15 of the fork 13 of the frame B. It will be clearly apparent that the pan or container C can be readily detached from the frame B when the occasion requires.

On the filling of the pan orcontainer C with the collected leaves, twigs or grass, the operator of the machine lifts the handle bar 16 upwardly from the full line position in Figure 1 of the drawing to the dotted line position therein, whereby the pan or container C will be in a position to dum .its load onto the ground or other place o deposit. In this manner the pan or container- C is dischargedof its contents or load.

In the operation of the machine when the same is to become active for collecting vor gathering leaves, twigs or other loose matter upon the ground, it is in the positions as shown in Figures l and 3 of the drawings and when an operator pushes the machine over the ground, the element A will rotate and its tines 12 will gather up or collect the loose matter upon the ground, while the tines 21 on the cylinder 20 will kick such collected mattei' from the tines 12 and on the freezing of the matter it will fall into the pan or container C, where the latter will be collected and transported to a point for deposit thereof.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner of operation of the machine will be clearly understood and therefore a more extended explanation has been omitted.

lVhat is claimed is A leafl collector comprising a fork shaped member having secured thereto, ccntrally of its rear, a rearwardly extending handle bar, the sides of said member formed with a forward pair and a rear pair of aligning bearings, a front and rear spindle mounted in said bearings, a gathering element carried by and driving the forward spindle, a cleaner element for the gathering element carried hy the rear spindle, means for driving the-rear spindle from the forward spindle an open front container arranged rearwardly of said elements and below the same, a detachable connection between the container and handle bar centrally of the lop of the rear of the container, and hanger members between the lower pair of bearings and the sides of said container.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

CLIFFORD C. MYRICK. 

